Paraguay in 10 Days: The Ultimate Travel Itinerary

This 10-day Paraguay itinerary focuses on Asunción, Encarnación, and Ciudad del Este, combining culture, Jesuit history, and waterfalls with easy bus connections and reasonable daily costs. Expect around $40–70/day for backpackers, $80–140 for mid-range, and $180+ for comfort in 2026.

Paraguay is still one of South America’s most underrated and most affordable destinations, with far fewer visitors than neighbors like Brazil or Argentina according to regional tourism reports, yet solid intercity buses and plenty of small, family-run hotels and guesthouses. This 10-day travel plan assumes arrival and departure from Asunción, looping south to Encarnación and east to Ciudad del Este, then back to the capital.

You’ll spend:

• Days 1–3: Asunción – historic center, riverside Costanera, local food, day trip to Lake Ypacaraí towns
• Days 4–6: Encarnación & Jesuit ruins – riverside beach and UNESCO-listed missions near Trinidad and Jesús, following routes popular in many Paraguay tour programs.
• Days 7–9: Ciudad del Este & Saltos del Monday – markets, Itaipú Dam views and spectacular waterfalls.
• Day 10: Back to Asunción & departure

Throughout the trip, a Hello eSIM for Paraguay lets you arrive connected, check bus schedules in real time, and use the Hello app’s budget tracking and expense-splitting tools so you always know what you’re spending in guaraní versus USD without doing mental math.

Spending your first three days in Asunción is the best way to ease into Paraguay, explore its history, and enjoy riverside sunsets before heading into the rest of your 10-day itinerary.

Day 1 – Arrival & Costanera sunset
Morning: Land at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport and take an official taxi or rideshare to downtown Asunción (30–45 minutes, around $15–20 in 2026). Check into your hotel in the historic center or Villa Morra for walkability and safety. Afternoon: Stroll the Costanera de Asunción, the riverside promenade near the Palacio de López and National Congress buildings often listed among Paraguay’s top sights. Grab your first tereré (cold yerba mate) and street snacks for $3–5.

Evening: Dinner at Lido Bar or El Bolsi downtown, both classic spots recommended in many Asunción guides, where a hearty Paraguayan dish like sopa paraguaya or milanesa costs about $7–12 in 2026. Finish with people-watching at Plaza de los Héroes.

Day 2 – Historic core & museums
Morning: Join a free or tip-based walking tour (often 9–10am, tip $5–10) to cover Casa de la Independencia, the National Pantheon of Heroes, and key plazas, similar to suggested routes in popular Paraguay itineraries. Afternoon: Visit Museo del Barro for indigenous and folk art (small entry fee $2–3) or the Museum of Economy. Use Hello’s budget tracker to log cash expenses in guaraní via AI receipt scanning.

Evening: Watch a local football match if schedules align, or head to a rooftop like Zulu Terrace in Villa Morra for city views and cocktails ($5–8 each).

Day 3 – Lake towns: Areguá & San Bernardino
Morning–Afternoon: Day trip to Areguá and San Bernardino on Lake Ypacaraí, a route often highlighted by both local tour operators and travel bloggers. Buses from Asunción terminal cost roughly $2–4 each way and take 1–1.5 hours. Wander Areguá’s ceramic shops and colonial center, then continue 30 minutes to lakeside San Bernardino for promenade walks and lunch ($8–15 for lakefront restaurants).

Evening: Return to Asunción by bus and enjoy a relaxed dinner near your hotel.

Estimated daily budget (Asunción)

Three days around Encarnación and the nearby Jesuit ruins give you beaches, river views, and UNESCO-listed history in the middle of your Paraguay 10 day itinerary.

Day 4 – Asunción to Encarnación & Costanera
Morning: Take a coach bus from Asunción to Encarnación, a popular route of about 5–6 hours according to multiple Paraguay backpacking guides, costing $15–25 in 2026 for a semi-cama seat. Bookable at the bus terminal or via local apps using mobile data from a Hello eSIM. Afternoon: Check into a riverside hotel or guesthouse ($25–40 budget double, $50–90 mid-range) and walk the Costanera de Encarnación along the Paraná River. Between December and March, locals flock here to swim and sunbathe.

Evening: Try riverfront restaurants or simple parrillas for dinner ($8–15), and enjoy views across to Posadas, Argentina.

Day 5 – Jesuit Missions: Trinidad & Jesús
Morning–Afternoon: Join a half- or full-day tour to La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue, UNESCO World Heritage Jesuit missions often included in classic 10-day Paraguay tours. According to Paraguayan tourism materials, these reductions date back to the 17th–18th centuries and are among the best-preserved in the region. Expect $25–40 per person for a small-group tour including transport; entry fees run around $3–5 total.

Evening: Return to Encarnación and grab sunset drinks along the river or explore local cafés near Plaza de Armas.

Day 6 – Free day: Yerba mate culture or beach time
Morning: Relax with a late breakfast and beach time, or arrange a visit to a nearby yerba mate plantation, a common inclusion in organized Paraguay itineraries, where tours typically cost $15–25 and show the drying and packaging process. Afternoon: Souvenir shopping and café-hopping.

Evening: Early night and pack for the next day’s bus east to Ciudad del Este.

Estimated daily budget (Encarnación)

Ending your Paraguay travel plan in Ciudad del Este gives you markets, a massive hydroelectric dam, and dramatic waterfalls at Saltos del Monday before looping back to Asunción.

Day 7 – Encarnación to Ciudad del Este & downtown markets
Morning: Take a direct bus from Encarnación to Ciudad del Este (about 5–6 hours, $15–20 in 2026), or connect via Coronel Oviedo if schedules are limited, following routes described in many Paraguay travel blogs. Afternoon: Check into accommodation near the center ($20–35 budget, $45–80 mid-range) and explore the downtown shopping district famous for duty-free electronics and clothing. Even if you are not shopping, it’s an interesting glimpse into border trade.

Evening: Have dinner in a churrasquería or simple local restaurant ($7–12). Use Hello’s expense-splitting feature if you are sharing large platters or group meals in multiple currencies with friends.

Day 8 – Itaipú Dam views & nature
Morning: Arrange a visit to Itaipú Dam, often described by engineering sources as one of the world’s most powerful hydroelectric plants. Guided visits typically cost around $10–20 depending on the viewpoint circuit and transport. Afternoon: Stop by a bird park or small local nature reserves if offered on the tour, as many day trips combine the dam with short hikes or viewpoints.

Evening: Return to Ciudad del Este and enjoy a relaxed dinner; try Paraguayan staples like chipa guazú or mbejú.

Day 9 – Saltos del Monday waterfalls
Morning–Afternoon: Take a taxi or rideshare 10–15 km from the city to Saltos del Monday, a multi-tiered waterfall complex that several travel guides praise as a quieter alternative to Iguazú. Entry is around $6–10 in 2026, plus $10–15 each way for transport depending on negotiation. Spend 2–3 hours walking platforms and, if available, boat or zipline add-ons.

Evening: Return to Ciudad del Este, enjoy one last border-town dinner, and prep for your final bus back to Asunción.

Estimated daily budget (Ciudad del Este)

Your final day focuses on getting back to Asunción, picking up last souvenirs, and closing out your 10 day Paraguay itinerary without stress.

Morning – Bus back to Asunción
Most travelers return from Ciudad del Este to Asunción by long-distance bus, a 5–6 hour trip widely cited in Paraguay transport guides, with tickets around $15–20 for a comfortable seat in 2026. Buses usually leave throughout the day; choose a morning departure to avoid evening traffic. Having an eSIM from Hello makes it easy to check updated timetables and track your bus company’s WhatsApp updates or social feeds.

Afternoon – Drop bags & final stroll
Arrive back at Asunción’s main terminal and take a taxi or rideshare to your hotel or straight to the airport if flying out the same night ($10–15). If you have half a day free, use it to:

• Revisit a favorite café or bakery in the historic center
• Pick up last-minute ceramics from Areguá styles sold in Asunción markets
• Walk the Costanera one more time for river views

Evening – Airport & departure
Most international flights leave Asunción in the evening or at night. Plan to arrive at Silvio Pettirossi Airport 2–3 hours before departure. Airport snacks and simple meals cost $8–15 in 2026.

Open the Hello app and export your trip’s expenses as a CSV or PDF from the multi-currency tracker, useful if you have been splitting costs; you can see at a glance how much your Paraguay 10 day trip cost by category (transport, food, accommodation, activities). This is especially handy for comparing future trips to other South American destinations.

Estimated daily budget (travel day)

A 10 day trip to Paraguay typically costs $400–700 for budget travelers, $900–1,500 for mid-range, and $2,000+ for luxury in 2026, making it cheaper than many nearby South American countries according to regional cost-of-travel comparisons.

To build your Paraguay itinerary realistically, it helps to see where your money goes. Long-distance buses between major cities like Asunción, Encarnación, and Ciudad del Este generally cost $15–25 per leg and take 5–6 hours, as reported by multiple Paraguay travel blogs and bus company timetables. Within cities, local buses are under $1 per ride, while taxis and ride-hailing start around $2–3 for short distances.

Average meal prices in 2026:

• Breakfast: $3–6 at cafés or bakeries
• Local lunch menus: $5–8 for a plato del día
• Dinner: $7–12 for budget, $12–25 for nicer restaurants

Accommodation per night:

• Hostels / basic guesthouses: $12–25 per person
• Mid-range hotels: $40–80 for a double
• Top-end hotels: $120–220+ for a double

Use the Hello app to track these in real time: snap photos of paper receipts in guaraní, let the AI detect the currency and category, and see your daily average spend. If you are traveling as a group, the expense splitting feature converts between currencies automatically, which is particularly helpful around border areas like Ciudad del Este where Brazilian reais and Argentine pesos circulate alongside guaraní.

Approximate total trip costs (10 days, 2026)

These quick answers cover the most common questions travelers ask when planning a Paraguay 10 day itinerary, from safety and costs to connectivity and best time to go.

Is Paraguay safe for travelers?
Most visitors experience Paraguay as generally safe, especially in central areas of Asunción, Encarnación, and Ciudad del Este during the day, according to regional safety advisories. As with much of South America, petty theft can occur; use normal precautions, avoid flashing valuables, and take licensed taxis at night.

How expensive is Paraguay compared to neighbors?
Paraguay is typically cheaper than Brazil and Argentina on average for food and accommodation, based on regional cost indices often cited by travel cost comparison sites. Expect $40–70/day on a backpacker budget and $80–140/day for mid-range comfort in 2026.

How do I get around between cities?
Buses are the main way to move between Asunción, Encarnación, Ciudad del Este, and the Chaco, with most routes taking 5–8 hours and costing $15–25. Domestic flights exist but are less common because the country is relatively compact, as several Paraguay travel guides note.

Do I need Spanish or Guaraní?
Spanish is widely spoken, while Guaraní is co-official and common in informal settings. In tourist-facing businesses you can usually get by with basic Spanish and some English, but learning simple phrases makes daily life and buses much easier.

How do I stay connected?
The easiest option is Hello eSIM for Paraguay (Hello eSIM for Paraguay), which lets you buy and activate data before arrival so your phone works as soon as you land. You can then use the Hello app for live bus info, maps, and budget tracking without hunting for a local SIM.

When is the best time to visit?
The most comfortable months are generally May–September, the cooler, drier season in much of Paraguay, while December–February can be very hot and humid, especially in the Chaco and around Encarnación, according to local climate data reported by Paraguayan meteorological services.